Srinagar, Sep 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government has ruled out any immediate construction of the Lolab-Bandipora tunnel, stating that no proposal is presently under consideration, dashing hopes of expedited connectivity in North Kashmir’s remote villages.
In a written reply tabled in the House, the Public Works (R&B) Department as per Kashmir Convener said the project remains stuck at a preliminary stage due to major statutory and environmental bottlenecks, with dense forest land emerging as a key hurdle.
The reply came in response to a resolution moved by MLA Lolab, Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, urging the government to expedite the construction of the Lolab-Bandipora tunnel and road.
An amendment moved by MLA Bandipora Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, seeking to add a clause demanding completion and opening of the project for public use by the end of 2027, was not accepted, with the government making no commitment to the deadline.
Breaking down the status of the project, the government said, “No proposal for construction of a Lolab-Bandipora tunnel is presently under consideration with the Government. Consequently, no DPR has been prepared, and no timeline can be furnished at this stage.”
For the road project, a Preliminary Project Report (PPR) for the Lolab-Bandipora Road — spanning 40 km at an estimated cost of Rs 200.76 crore — has been prepared and is under examination. However, the proposed alignment passes through dense forest land, requiring statutory clearances.
On the road project in general, the government said no separate proposal is under consideration and that the alignment involves substantial forest area, requiring examination of procedural requirements. “No further steps can be indicated at this stage,” the reply stated.
The government clarified that the matter remains at a “preliminary/examination stage” and that progress is contingent upon obtaining forest and other statutory clearances. “No definite timeline can be committed at this point,” the reply stated, adding that the House will be kept informed as the position evolves.
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